BREAKING: A landmark report released today reveals a deepening housing crisis in regional Australia, jeopardizing the ability to house essential workers. The report from the Regional Australia Institute highlights that by the end of 2024, low-density, detached housing approvals have surged, despite a booming population and a staggering 1.7% rental vacancy rate.
As regional populations swell, housing approvals plummeted to just 48,570 per year in 2024, while over 117,000 new residents flooded into these areas in 2023. This imbalance has resulted in a shocking 62% increase in regional house prices over the past five years, severely undermining the affordability advantage that country living once offered.
Liz Ritchie, chief executive of the Regional Australia Institute, asserts that “the lack of dedicated national and state-level attention to regional housing has led to persistent barriers in planning, financing, construction and infrastructure delivery.” This crisis not only threatens the housing of critical workers—like doctors and teachers—but also endangers the economic stability of these communities.
The report urges the federal government to take immediate action, calling for the construction of 480,000 homes out of the 1.2 million targeted under the National Housing Accord. The current national housing discourse is overly focused on capital cities, neglecting the pressing issues facing regional areas.
“Without a significant step-up in housing supply in the regions, our communities will struggle to attract and retain workers, deliver services, and grow economically,” Ritchie warned. The report recommends establishing dedicated regional housing agencies and appointing a federal regional housing commissioner to address these urgent needs.
Authorities are urged to increase funding for housing aimed specifically at essential workers and support local construction businesses to build larger, multi-complex dwellings. The need for action is now more urgent than ever, as the lack of diverse housing options hampers the development and sustainability of regional Australia.
As this crisis unfolds, residents and local leaders are calling for immediate government intervention to ensure that regional communities can accommodate their growing populations and support the vital workforce needed to drive their economies. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story, as the implications are profound and immediate for regional Australians.
